Glossary

Acquired Mutations—changes in DNA that that occur during a person’s lifetime

Adenocarcinomas—tumors that arise in the epithelial tissue of a gland (kidney, prostate, and breast cancers)

Alkylating Agents—a family of anticancer drugs that inhibits cancer cell growth by interfering with the cell's ability to replicate its DNA

Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)—procedure in which the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow are harvested from a donor and transferred to someone else

Angiogenesis—blood vessel formation; tumor angiogenesis is the growth of blood vessels to supply a solid tumor

Angiography—procedure in which a dye is injected into an artery in order to visualize it using x-rays

Annual Risk—the chances of acquiring a disease or condition during a given year

Antimetabolites—chemotherapeutic agents that interfere with the reproduction and function of cells

Apoptosis—the mechanism by which old or damaged cells self-destruct

Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)
—procedure in which the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow are harvested from a patient and returned at a later time

Barium Enema—a diagnostic procedure in which an x-ray absorbing substance is barium, an x-ray absorbing substances in injected into the rectum and colon so as to produce x-ray images of their interior

Basal—lowermost level of epithelial cells, anchoring the cells above

Basic Research—research directed toward understanding the causes of cancer and how it affects the cells, tissues, and organs of the body; advances in basic research provide the foundation for clinical research

Bone Marrow Aspiration—a procedure in which a sample of liquid bone marrow is removed and tested for the presence of disease; the sample is usually obtained by inserting a needle into the pelvic bone

Bone Marrow Biopsy—a procedure in which a sample of bone marrow and a small piece of bone are removed and tested for the presence of disease; the samples are usually obtained by inserting a needle into the pelvic bone

Bone Marrow Transplant
—the removal of blood-forming cells from a donor followed by the transfer of the cells to a recipient

Bone Scan—a diagnostic procedure in which a radioactive compound called is injected into the bloodstream in order to detect the presence of cancer (or other abnormalities) in the bones

Brachytherapy—administration of radiation therapy by surgically implanting radioactive materials near the tumors in an effort to kill cancer cells and minimize damage to surrounding tissue

Bronchoscopy—visualization of the airways in the lungs with a small, lighted fiberoptic tube (bronchoscope), through which tissue samples may be obtained to check for cancer

Cancers of the Central Nervous System (CNS)—occur in either the brain or the spinal cord and are named according to the specific tissue type from which they arise

Carcinogens—substances that damage DNA and cause cancer

Carcinoma—cancer arising in any of the epithelial tissue that covers the external or internal body surfaces, such as the skin, lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancers

Carcinoma
in situ—cancer cells confined to their epithelial tissue of origin; noninvasive growth

Chromosome—part of a cell that contains genetic information in the form of genes; except for sperm and eggs, virtually all human cells contain 46 chromosomes

Clinical Research—research that uses humans to studies new ways of preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer

Clinical Trials—research studies that uses humans to test new drugs or other treatments and compare their effectiveness and side effects with those of current, standard treatments

Cobalt (Cobalt 60)—radioisotope used as a source of megavoltage radiation for treating some cancers of the internal organs

Colonoscopy—a procedure in which a thin, fiberoptic tube equipped with a light source, camera and instruments is inserted through the anus to view the entire rectum and colon; designed to examine, biopsy, and treat polyps, cancers, and other abnormalities

Colposcopy—test which enables the doctor to closely examine the genitals, vagina, and cervix

Combination
Chemotherapy—use of 2 or more drugs to treat cancer by destroying the maximum number of tumor cells while minimizing toxicity and drug resistance

Dedifferentiation—a cancer cell loses the properties it originally had

Deletions—removal of one or more base pairs, which may result in the expression (production) of an abnormal protein or no protein at all

Diagnostic Imaging—includes all tests that produce images or pictures of the inside of the body in order to diagnose diseases

Differentiation—process by which a cell changes its structure and function so as to perform a specific task

Digital Radiography—converts x-ray images to electronic data that can be viewed on a monitor and stored on computer disks; allows specific areas of the image to be enlarged and adjusted for greater visibility

Digital Rectal Exam—insertion of a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum to check for masses or other abnormalities

Dysplasia—abnormal changes in a cell that portend the development of cancer

Endoscopy—use of a fiberoptic tube equipped with a light source and various instruments to examine the interior of the gastrointestinal tract

Epidermis—outermost, protective layer of the skin

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy—an upper endoscopy; use of a fiberoptic tube equipped with a light source and various instruments to examine the interior of the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum)

Excisional
Biopsy—surgical procedure in which an entire tumor is removed

Fecal Occult Blood Test—a small sample of stool is placed on a special card and tested by a lab for hidden blood

Fibrosis—the formation of excessive scar tissue, as in a reparative or reactive process

Fine-Needle Aspiration—procedure in which a thin needle is used to remove fluid and/or cells from a tumor or other suspicious area

Gallium Scan—procedure in which a radioactive compound called Gallium-67 is injected into a veins, to facilitate visualization of a tumor

Hyperplasia—an abnormal increase in the number of cells in a tissue with consequent enlargement

Hyperthermia—a treatment that uses several different methods to increase the temperature of the area of the body cancer containing cancer as a means to inhibit its growth

Immunophenotyping—the characterization of cells based on immunologically active markers on their surface

Incisional
Biopsy—the surgical removal of a portion of a larger tumor; sometimes used as part of a debulking procedure in the hope of improving the efficacy of radiation or chemotherapy

Infusion Center—a special area within a medical oncology department for administering intravenous chemotherapy to patients who are not admitted overnight

Insertions—addition of one or more base pairs, which may result in the altered expression of a protein

Intravenous Pyelography—procedure in which dye is injected into a vein and a series of x-rays are taken to visualize the urinary system

Interphase—cell's period of normal growth and development

Inpatient Unit (Medical Oncology)—a unit in the hospital where cancer patients receive care from physicians, nurses, technicians, and other providers familiar with the needs of cancer patients

Ionizing Radiation—high energy radiation that may lead to certain cancers; also used in the treatment of cancer

Kilovoltage Radiation Therapy—radiation treatment that is high enough to kill cancer cells without penetrating deeply into the body; often used for treating skin tumors

Laparoscopy—a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which tiny incisions are made in the abdomen, through which lighted fiberoptic tubes and instruments are passed

Laparotomy—an invasive surgical procedure in which an incision is made through the wall of the abdomen to gain access to the abdominal contents

Large Needle (or Core)
Biopsy—procedure in which tissue is removed with a large-bore needle in order to diagnose cancer

Leukemias—cancers of the immature blood cells that originate in the bone marrow and accumulate in large numbers in the bloodstream

Lifetime Risk—the chances of acquiring a disease or condition over the period of one’s life

Linear Accelerator—machine that creates a stream of fast-moving subatomic particles used in the treatment of certain cancers

Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)
—removal of a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to test for cancer cells and other substances indicative of disease

Lymphangiogram—procedure in which a dye is injected directly into the lymphatic vessels in order to visualize using x-rays

Lymph Node
Biopsy—procedure in which one or more lymph nodes are removed and examined under a microscope to determine whether or not cancer is present

Lymphatic System—network of channels that transport the fluid, debris, and waste products that accumulate within tissues (lymph) back into the circulatory system; consists of the lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels

Lymphomas—cancers of the white blood cells that primarily occupy the lymph nodes and tissues of the body's immune system

Lymphoscintigraphy—a diagnostic test to track the flow of lymph; it is performed prior to a sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is done to see if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes

Mediastinoscopy—a procedure in which an instrument is inserted through a small incision in the middle portion of chest to remove lymph node tissue and possibly cancer cells from the region between the lungs

Ras—a normally inactive protein, that when activated, signals cells to divide (even when they should not)

Relative Risk—the degree of the relationship between a particular risk factor and a particular cancer expressed as a ratio of the number of cancer cases in a group of individuals with a risk factor over the number of cases in those without it

Renal Angiography—an x-ray study using contrast material to image the arteries leading to the kidneys; useful in diagnosing renal cancers

Sarcomas—cancers arising from cells found in the connective tissues of the body such as bone, cartilage, fat, and muscle

Schistosoma haematobium—a type of parasitic worm that has been linked to bladder cancer

Sentinel Lymph Node
Biopsy—a procedure used to check for cancer that may have spread to the lymph nodes

Sigmoidoscopy
—a procedure in which a thin, fiberoptic tube equipped with a light source, camera, and instruments is inserted through the anus to view the inside of the lower colon and rectum to look for polyps, cancers, and other abnormalities

Sputum Cytology—examination of a sample of mucus from the lungs to check for cancer cells

Squamous Cell Carcinoma—cancer of the superficial cells of the skin

Stem Cells—undeveloped, undifferentiated cells; able to differentiate into all types of cells

Stereotaxis—a technique in which a computer-assisted CT or MRI scan is used to precisely locate and biopsy a tumor

Surgical
Biopsy—the surgical removal of all or part of a suspicious mass for lab examination

Thoracentesis—a procedure in which a needle is inserted through the chest wall to remove a sample of the fluid from around the lungs to check for cancer cells

Translocations—all or part of a gene recombines with other genes, which may result in the altered expression of a protein or proteins

Transrectal Ultrasound—a procedure in which an ultrasound probe inserted into the rectum is used to create images of the prostate gland

Tumor Markers—substances that can often be detected in higher-than-normal amounts in the blood, urine, or body tissues of people with certain types of cancer

Tumor Suppressor Genes—normal genes that keep the growth of cells in check; their absence or alteration may lead to cancer

Ultrasound—the use of reflected, high-frequency sound waves to create instantaneous images of structures inside the body

Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation—invisible, electromagnetic energy produced by the sun and other sources on earth (such as, sun lamps) that can cause melanoma and other types of skin cancer

Upper GI X-ray Study—a procedure in which the patient drinks a thick, chalky barium solution while a series of x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (duodenum) are taken

Urine and Blood Tests—a sample of urine or blood used for the purpose of diagnosing or screening for a diseases, or detecting the presence or amount of drugs

Vaginal Exam—procedure in which the doctor examines a patient’s vagina, ovaries, and other reproductive organs to determine their condition

Virus—a small bundle of genes enclosed within a protein shell and membranous envelope that reproduce by infecting host cells; a number of viruses have been linked to certain cancers

Xeroderma Pigmentosum—a rare genetic defect that impairs the ability of cells to repair DNA damaged by ultraviolet radiation; characterized by severe sensitivity to all sources of UV radiation (especially sunlight) and an abnormally high incidence of skin cancer

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.